Owl Booklet Mistakes

 Well I've learnt by my mistakes once again.  I had stamped this owl design on the cloth and stitched on it and thought everything was fine. When I applied the wheat paste to the back of the cloth to adhere to my binding board, the ink ran as you can see and then I realized too late that I had forgotten the beak!! 

 The ink on this one ran too but not quite as bad.  Remembered the beak at least.  I've started another cover but just drew the simple design onto the cloth lightly with a pencil. 

 The only ornament I've made this year to give as a Christmas gift.  This hardanger design stitches up so quickly with no cutting or wrapping.

 I received this lovely package of hand dyed perle cottons from Lorraine at Colour Complements.  I'm giving them away as Christmas gifts but think that I'll just have to keep one for myself.  The colours are beautiful.  You do wonderful work Lorraine!  Thank you :)

 More progress on my whole cloth piece for the stitchery guild.  I painted the flowers and stems with acrylic paint and a bit of textile medium.  I heat set it just with a hot iron.  So far I've used buttonhole stitches on the one purple flower and on a stem, crossed buttonhole, running stitch, herringbone, stem stitch, straight stitch, chain stitch and french knots.  I love incorporating as many stitches as I can into a piece. 

 These 4 Sharp-tailed Grouse flew up and perched on a poplar branch the other morning.  

 I was glad that they stayed long enough for me to grab my camera. 

Running stitch and french knots on the orange flower and cretan stitch on the stem.

Wishing everyone a most delightful December day!

Leaf Treasure Box finish

 The Regina Stitchery Guild program for the year has been to make a leaf treasure box and put little books in it that we are also learning to make. Deciding on colours, design and stitching has been a wonderful creative experience.  I really enjoyed learning how to make the 3 needlelace leaves you see. There are about 20 of us making one and it's great to see how different and creative they all are.

The box was made using heavy duty interfacing and dyed material that I stitched a variety of leaf designs on.  I used the buttonhole stitch to stitch all the pieces together. 

 Also finished my Fandangle in Blue!  It was a complete kit from Nordic Needle stitched on Congress cloth.  I'm thinking of making another one in a variegated orange colour.

I'll be mailing this atc to England tomorrow as part of the artist trading card swap going on right now on the stitchin' fingers site.

Hope everyone has a little time to stitch and be creative today :)

Fandangle Part 2

 Second half and tassel made.  Next step is to put a bit of batting between the two stitched pieces, sew together with invisible thread, add a corded loop and the tassel.  Will definitely work on finishing it this week.

 Another owl pincushion finished for a next year's Christmas gift.  I put a bit of cotton batting for the beak and fill the rest up with wheat and a 3/4" nut for weight and stability.

 The artist trading card group on the Stitchin' fingers site has begun it's swap for the year.  The proposed theme for January was "New beginnings..."  Since I want to work more with orange and yellows this year, for my "New beginnings" theme I'm working on this orangy atc.

 Went outside yesterday with seeds in my left hand and camera up to my eye in my right and in less than a minute I had this sweet chickadee come for a snack.

 There were 4 or 5 flitting around the trees and politely taking turns.  It is amazing how light they are.

 Grant goes out everyday to chop wood for the woodstove and always has seeds in his pocket for the chickadees.  They are very used to seeing a hand with seeds and not shy about nabbing one. 

A soft sunset view across the lake from yesterday evening.  Have a delight-filled day :)

Fandangle in Blue

 Last year I purchased this Fandangle in Blue hardanger kit and am now finally working on it. It is stitched on congress cloth using # 8 perle cotton and stitches up beautifully.  The back is worked up the same as the front, a small wadding of batting is put between the two pieces and sewn together with a nice tassel.  Haven't got that far yet. 

 Since I enjoyed stitching up these owl pincushions in December and giving them away as gifts I thought I'd make a few more for next Christmas.

The weather forecasters are telling us we are experiencing a polar vortex and that's why the temperatures have been so bitterly cold.  Today it is -32 degrees Celsius and the sundogs are out around the sun.

Owl Pincushions & a Merry Christmas to all!

 A friend recently gave me the pattern to make these owl pincushions.  I looked around the net and found it available from Sewn into the Fabric if anyone is interested.  I didn't fill mine with walnut shells though but used wheat instead plus a washer at the bottom so they would sit a bit better.  Gave all these away so I now have to make myself one!

 Working on my hardanger ornament that I am keeping for myself this time. The hand-dyed 5 perle cotton embroidery thread is from Lorraine's etsy shop Les Designs.  I love all the colours she has available.

 Managed in between owl pincushions and hardanger ornaments to sew the edges onto the top of the leaf lid I'm also working on.  Will tackle the sides next year.

 Made this cross stitch design into a pillow many years ago.  It's always such a pleasure to bring out the hand made Christmas things to decorate the house with :)

 A few more ornaments that I made many years ago that are now on the tree :)

 As many of you may have guessed I love birds and bird watching and am also a member of Bird Feeder Watch Canada. 19 beautiful Grey Partridges come into our yard on a daily basis.  One or 2 are usually standing guard while the rest forage. They have such wonderful chestnut barring, reddish face and dark red belly patch.  One of these days I'd like to stitch a partridge too!

Have a very Merry Christmas, a Happy Holiday, a Frohe Weihnachten and a Joyeux Noel!!  I wish each of you good health, joy and plenty of creativity in 2014 :)

Bit of Christmas Stitching

 Finished putting together these 3 hardanger ornaments with tassels and cording. With no cutting or wrapping, they were very quick to stitch.  Now to wrap and put them in the mail.  I really would like to make one for myself sometime. Maybe during the Christmas holidays.

 I stitched this little O Tannenbaum pillow years and years ago and it is now sitting on the back of the couch enjoying the light of day. 

 I was thrilled when this sharp-tailed grouse flew up onto our deck rail and stayed long enough for me to run and get my camera.  There were 6 others on the ground below.  I love their colour and markings and they are fun to watch as they chase each other around.

 My camera was out so here is MooShoo our stinker cat being a goofus :)

Hardanger Christmas Bell Pull

 After a 7 day lovely holiday I'm back home and at work.  Didn't pick up a needle at all the entire time and it was a nice break actually. The first day of our trip I did a bit of crocheting but that quickly fell by the wayside.  So this small hardanger bell pull was one that I did a couple years ago that is now up on the wall enjoying the season.

Hardanger Tiny

At 2 1/2" x 2 1/2", this is definitely the smallest piece of hardanger I've ever done. Stitching small projects gives one that wonderful sense of accomplishment when one is always pressed for time.  Very pleased with my results & think I'll make another with blue on blue sometime & then white on white..... :)

Careful cutting

Stork-necked scissors are definitely the ones to use when cutting out one's stitching.  Slowly & carefully I cut away my tiny doily.

Stitching completed

I've so enjoyed stitching this small hardanger pattern & am very pleased at how it's turned out.  One last step to go - cutting it out!  Gulp.  Maybe I should attempt this when I'm well rested, not in a hurry & with no one distracting me.

Cameo Rose ready for wrapping

It's just so neat to cut & pull the threads away & it doesn't fall apart & thankfully I was careful enough & didn't cut anything I shouldn't have. Yeah!!!  The next step is the fun part of wrapping & stitching all the dove's eyes.  After work today there's yard & garden & flower bed stuff to do so I don't know how much I'll be able to get to this evening but even if I just get a few bars wrapped I'll be happy :)

Hardanger pulled threads

It's always a bit daunting to start cutting the threads away.  One wrong tiny little snip of a thread that shouldn't be cut & I'm in trouble. Of course I did it way too late at night but when else do I have any time?  Plus I was excited to cut & pull the threads so I could start the next step of wrapping the bars.

Rosette

I wanted  a centre that I hadn't stitched before & decided to try this Struvor  (type of Scandinavian cookie) or Rosette design.  It's a combination of divided woven bars & divided branches with an eyelet in the centre.  I should have pulled more tightly on the branches to open up the bars a bit more.  Oh well, live & learn but I'm still fairly pleased with the results.

Cameo Rose Hardanger

Progressing nicely on my small hardanger cameo rose doiley. The eyelets are done & the centre & now it's time to do some cutting & pull threads.

Pale Pink on Cameo Rose

Began this hardanger doily on a small piece of 32 count Cameo Rose linen & #8 perle cotton. I've had the material for ages & forgotten ( no surprise there), what I had originally purchased it for.  My mother asked me who I was making it for & I decided that it's high time I made something for myself.  The kloster blocks are all done & the buttonhole edging & now I'm working on the eyelets all along the edge. It's been awhile & I'd forgotten how relaxing hardanger is to stitch.